Clear instead of painted reflectors. What to choose?

f82fanatic · 07-21-2015, 04:12 AM

Hi Guys,

I have been looking into changing my ugly orange reflectors to either painted or clear reflectors.

I have always preferred clear, but now I am having doubts. My car is Alpine White, so I don't think I'll have the paint match problem. Which ones do you prefer?

MCanadaE46 · 07-21-2015, 06:15 AM

Personally, I like it painted. Clear is just too rice for my taste.

M3Fahrer · 07-21-2015, 07:44 AM

I have AW and I like the painted reflectors better. Although either one looks better than the original amber one. Been seeing a lot of clear reflectors on Nissan Z down here in South Florida.

carbon//m3 · 07-21-2015, 08:29 AM

Paint for sure

CanAutM3 · 07-21-2015, 08:41 AM

Painted, just as the M3/4 was designed to look like

.

f82fanatic · 07-21-2015, 09:28 AM

I think I will get the painted ones, they do look better in this car. The problem with them is that you can see, especially in white, that the piece is not continuous with the original bumper, it looks that the bumper was manipulated, and I normally like the car to be as stock looking as possible (except for those disgusting orange reflectors!).

Wah · 07-21-2015, 09:56 AM

I like both but if it you can get a good paint match, I'd go painted. I had clears on my last car and they discolored after a while and started to look like crap.

997usa · 07-21-2015, 10:16 AM

Paint - 100%

x.shell · 07-21-2015, 10:29 AM

Clear is uglier than orange IMO. Painted is the better option.

2HIGH~PSI · 07-21-2015, 10:31 AM

without a doubt, painted. Looks so good.

IM2C · 07-21-2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ex o

Clear is uglier than orange IMO. Painted is the better option.

+1

Andrew115 · 07-21-2015, 10:39 AM

I like painted also but if you want to try out a reflective color why not use something like this cut to fit and if you like it great if not take it off. Easy to do.

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/...Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

catch · 07-21-2015, 11:29 AM

those pictures say a lot!

clear looks very 1997 to me. Id go painted 1000%

CanAutM3 · 07-22-2015, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f82fanatic

I think I will get the painted ones, they do look better in this car. The problem with them is that you can see, especially in white, that the piece is not continuous with the original bumper, it looks that the bumper was manipulated, and I normally like the car to be as stock looking as possible (except for those disgusting orange reflectors!).

The true "stock" look is without reflectors at all. They were justadded for the US market to satisfy DOT requirements. If you can afford it, get a Euro front bumper for the ultimate look

.

RocketBoots · 07-23-2015, 09:23 AM

I debated getting the clears for a sec. Thanks for those pics. The clear is UGLY

I didn't think it would look so bad. I prefer orange to the clear. So definitely go painted.

Anchored · 07-23-2015, 09:25 AM

Fill the hole entirely and paint it!

Don't think I have seen anyone do that yet.

f82fanatic · 07-23-2015, 10:16 AM

Thanks for all The opinions!

I do like painted better, so I will go with those ones.

No way in hell I'll buy a new bumper because I don't like that the current one doesn't look perfect. That's way overboard.

And lastly, I don't think clears look as bad, but they do look out of place the more I look at them. However, Orange is very ugly, definitely the worst in my opinion.

07-21-2015, 04:12 AM	#1
f82fanatic Major 1043 Rep 1,390 Posts Drives: iX Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	Clear instead of painted reflectors. What to choose? Hi Guys, I have been looking into changing my ugly orange reflectors to either painted or clear reflectors. I have always preferred clear, but now I am having doubts. My car is Alpine White, so I don't think I'll have the paint match problem. Which ones do you prefer? Attached Images
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07-21-2015, 06:15 AM	#2
MCanadaE46 Private First Class 150 Rep 163 Posts Drives: BMW M3 F80 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Personally, I like it painted. Clear is just too rice for my taste.
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07-21-2015, 07:44 AM	#3
M3Fahrer First Lieutenant 300 Rep 380 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 CS Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: South FL iTrader: (0)	I have AW and I like the painted reflectors better. Although either one looks better than the original amber one. Been seeing a lot of clear reflectors on Nissan Z down here in South Florida. __________________ Current: 2018 ///M3 CS - Alpinweiss Current: 2022 ///M3 Competition - Brooklyn Grey Previous: 2015 ///M3 - Alpinweiss - Euro Delivery
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07-21-2015, 08:29 AM	#4
carbon//m3 Captain 168 Rep 635 Posts Drives: m4 vert Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: CA iTrader: (3)	Paint for sure
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07-21-2015, 08:41 AM	#5
CanAutM3 General 21117 Rep 20,741 Posts Drives: 2021 911 turbo Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Montreal iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 Audi RS6 [10.00] 2021 Porsche 911 turbo [10.00]	Painted, just as the M3/4 was designed to look like . __________________ Porsche 911 turbo 2021 992 GT Silver Previous cars: M4cs 2019 F82 Limerock Grey / M4 2015 F82 Silverstone / M3 2008 E92 Silverstone / M3 2002 E46 Carbon Black
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07-21-2015, 09:28 AM	#6
f82fanatic Major 1043 Rep 1,390 Posts Drives: iX Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	I think I will get the painted ones, they do look better in this car. The problem with them is that you can see, especially in white, that the piece is not continuous with the original bumper, it looks that the bumper was manipulated, and I normally like the car to be as stock looking as possible (except for those disgusting orange reflectors!).
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07-21-2015, 09:56 AM	#7
Wah IG@i.am.wah 2779 Rep 3,815 Posts Drives: M2 CS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NJ iTrader: (4) Garage List 2022 Tesla Model Y ... [0.00] 1974 BMW 2002 [0.00] 2020 BMW M2 CS [0.00]	I like both but if it you can get a good paint match, I'd go painted. I had clears on my last car and they discolored after a while and started to look like crap.
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07-21-2015, 10:16 AM	#8
997usa First Lieutenant 172 Rep 383 Posts Drives: 2015 F83 M4 - Silverstone Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Chapel Hill, NC iTrader: (0)	Paint - 100%
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07-21-2015, 10:29 AM	#9
x.shell ▆ ✚✚ ▆▆▆▆▆▆ 6580 Rep 5,304 Posts Drives: ▋ ▉▉ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: ▆▆▆ ▆▆▆ ▆ iTrader: (3)	Clear is uglier than orange IMO. Painted is the better option.
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07-21-2015, 10:31 AM	#10
2HIGH~PSI Lieutenant 164 Rep 582 Posts Drives: '94 Supra TT 6MT, '15 MW M4 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada iTrader: (0)	without a doubt, painted. Looks so good.
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07-21-2015, 10:39 AM	#12
Andrew115 Major 328 Rep 1,450 Posts Drives: Silver Bullet Join Date: May 2013 Location: Charlotte NC iTrader: (0)	I like painted also but if you want to try out a reflective color why not use something like this cut to fit and if you like it great if not take it off. Easy to do. http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/...Q&gclsrc=aw.ds
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07-21-2015, 11:29 AM	#13
catch Major General 668 Rep 7,148 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Thornhill iTrader: (27)	those pictures say a lot! clear looks very 1997 to me. Id go painted 1000% __________________ 2016 F80 M3 Mineral White/Sakhir Orange 2013 BMW S1000RR Flat Silver <stolen> 2007 BMW E92 335i Jet Black/Jade Grey <sold>
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07-23-2015, 09:23 AM	#15
RocketBoots Colonel 1860 Rep 2,104 Posts Drives: Horse Drawn Carriage Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (3)	I debated getting the clears for a sec. Thanks for those pics. The clear is UGLY I didn't think it would look so bad. I prefer orange to the clear. So definitely go painted.
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07-23-2015, 09:25 AM	#16
Anchored Banned 64 Rep 197 Posts Drives: E39 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Fill the hole entirely and paint it! Don't think I have seen anyone do that yet.
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07-23-2015, 10:16 AM	#17
f82fanatic Major 1043 Rep 1,390 Posts Drives: iX Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all The opinions! I do like painted better, so I will go with those ones. No way in hell I'll buy a new bumper because I don't like that the current one doesn't look perfect. That's way overboard. And lastly, I don't think clears look as bad, but they do look out of place the more I look at them. However, Orange is very ugly, definitely the worst in my opinion.
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